Small Scale Military Headquarters

After spending the past week visiting 10, yep, 10 different Walmarts-which some were SuperWM's, and not ONE of these WM's having ANY of the new D-Day figures, I've come to the conclusion tonight after visiting Ebay, that it's the Ebay Sellers that have come to love 21C more than I can. THEY have a way to FIND these D-Day figures and post them for sale for 10 bucks each and more!
Is it a distribution problem here? Many say yes, but at each of these 10 stores ALL of them had the same Star Wars figures, Corps figures and Sigma 6 figures, ALL of them. So the WM distribution problem is just with 21C, no other toy maker. This is hard for me to understand.
So again I sit here frustrated with 21C. I'm coming to the conclusion that WM can only stock product they can get in...
I've sold off my collection to good people here before, and may do it again and just wave the white flag and give up! I even said I'd only buy this stuff from online stores, but even they can't get the new figures...AAAARRRGGG!!

Yeah, the whole availably thing is very frustrating. As far as ebay goes (with some exceptions, lsc1002 mainly, likely the entire bright light), I'm giving up there also, not the least is due to this,

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/ ... 50,00.html

Yeow! What was that?!!
Still sitting here frustrated...still wanting to just chuck it all...

holensock wrote:Yeow! What was that?!!
Still sitting here frustrated...still wanting to just chuck it all...

Oops, sorry (their are others such as giwoofer, tanks4lookin and more I should have included). I'd recently moved onto 1/6, as in the last two weeks (since new 1/18 stuff was scarce, I should'a waited), my most recent stuff to show up was the complete 12 cm mortar DID setup with the Dragon kubelwagon in OEM packaging shipped in two boxes. They arrived on 2 separate days. They showed up in pieces, some repairable, some not. No ones fault, accidents happen (I left favorable feedback). But this did lead to my thinking about whats important and what's not, even with questionable availability, I'd much rather deal with known folks such as MTS and Badcat. Otherwise I'd find other things to do.

Sorry for the rambling, just hope somehow this makes sense.

It makes sense. I just have to come to grips that my XD collection will have to consist of what I can find. And I WILL NOT again do the special recons at as many WM's as I can. I give up on that. Those trips would be fun if I could find stuff, find a few extras for army building...
Hopefully they will show up at one of the online stores...

holensock wrote:It makes sense. I just have to come to grips that my XD collection will have to consist of what I can find. And I WILL NOT again do the special recons at as many WM's as I can. I give up on that. Those trips would be fun if I could find stuff, find a few extras for army building...
Hopefully they will show up at one of the online stores...

I agree 100%. I've gotten back into HO model railroading. I find that it has kept me from going postal after one to many WM dry runs. I still only have nine of the new figures and can't find the rest. Another good thing is that all the local hobby shops are family owned affairs run by people not drones who will get you ANYTHING you may need unlike the evil empire, err WM.

Not quitting XD but cutting back the time I waste trying to find the stuff.

I think 21st better get their heads on straight and start meeting customer/collector demands before they end up losing a lot of faithful people that collect x/d For weeks I've visited the different wallys in my area, and not so much as a peep of the new d-day figs. You would think that 21st would be breaking their necks to get the new products out to the online retailers to boost their sales. Obviously they have some kind of deal worked out with the evil empire (WM) where they get the products first, but it's really unfair to collectors because 21st century toys are not for kids! These are adult collectibles. Most kids these days don't even know what WW2 was, let alone care. I get so tired of trying to explain to the people at work the history of WW2 and they're like, who? what? And when I show them the new figures I get they're like, ew look at you, playing with toys. If they only understood that these toys represent our american and world history, and some of us would like to preserve that. I'm getting really sick of going to all these different Walmarts and looking for stock that's not there. If 21st Century really does care about its customers they'll get the stock out to them. 21st century better watch out because other toy makers will jump on the opportunity to sieze control of the 1:18 scale market. Look at Hasbro for instance with these new 25 joes coming out. Most of us collect XD because of joe figures from the 80's. Okay now I'm done venting. Thanks for listening everybody.

tosborne3 wrote:I think 21st better get their heads on straight and start meeting customer/collector demands before they end up losing a lot of faithful people that collect x/d For weeks I've visited the different wallys in my area, and not so much as a peep of the new d-day figs. You would think that 21st would be breaking their necks to get the new products out to the online retailers to boost their sales. Obviously they have some kind of deal worked out with the evil empire (WM) where they get the products first, but it's really unfair to collectors because 21st century toys are not for kids! These are adult collectibles. Most kids these days don't even know what WW2 was, let alone care. I get so tired of trying to explain to the people at work the history of WW2 and they're like, who? what? And when I show them the new figures I get they're like, ew look at you, playing with toys. If they only understood that these toys represent our american and world history, and some of us would like to preserve that. I'm getting really sick of going to all these different Walmarts and looking for stock that's not there. If 21st Century really does care about its customers they'll get the stock out to them. 21st century better watch out because other toy makers will jump on the opportunity to sieze control of the 1:18 scale market. Look at Hasbro for instance with these new 25 joes coming out. Most of us collect XD because of joe figures from the 80's. Okay now I'm done venting. Thanks for listening everybody.

Hear, Hear!! Thanks much.

Maybe we collectors could have some kind of x/d strike to get their attention. (just kidding of course) But in all fairness this mindless searching for new x/d really stinks...

I'm with you, Rowsdower. I have N scale trains, nothing set up yet, but it feels good to be able to buy whatever I want when I want. XD's becoming too much of a gamble.
And I can't agree with you more, tosborne3! There are those here who will disagree with you that it's not 21C's fault, but WM's distribution...but why would WM just pick 21C as the the toy NOT to distribute to ALL their stores when WM's distribution has no problems putting The CORPS in ALL their stores, and Sigma 6, and Star Wars, and the superhero stuff...
If 21C signed a special agreement with WM, then we should be able to FIND as much as we want at ALL WM's and be able to BUY as MUCH as we want at ALL WM's!
As it stands now, or at least as it seems, a WM store will get ONE case of 6 or so XD's, and that's it?

I think an organized letter or e-mail campaign may be in order. The question is: who do we write? Walmart or 21st? I am sure 21st is at least somewhat aware of our frustrations and may have no influence on the issue. And Walmart, sadly, could probably care less about the 0.00001% that our XD purchases represent of their annual sales. I am frankly surprised that they haven't bought enough congressmen yet to have Arkansas changed to the state of Waltonia.
However, some sort of organized effort might at least make them realize that we ARE out here and that not all buyers are 10-year old kids, but people who might also spend significant amounts of money at Walmart for other things, as well.
I did try to send an e-mail to Target, requesting that they try to carry 21st, more bbi other than Combat Command, and/or Admiral in store, and the response I got back was that they didn't know if we would see more bbi figures at my local store. Which makes me wonder if their customer service "answer center" is in India like everyone else's, and they don't have a clue what they are reading other than canned responses based on keywords (that is another rant entirely, but suffice it to say that I will NEVER purchase another Dell computer).

I still feel the problem with distribution is Walmarts. When they first started selling 21 st stuff using the Motorworks name, They sent the BOB Sherman and Tiger I to the Kansas City metro area stores. No Bradley's or helecopters of any kind ever showed up. Other areas reported the got the Bradlley's and copters but not the Tanks. This summer I drove down to Branson Mo. for a family get togher and stopped in the Walmarts along the way. They had the new Mustangs and Corsairs and Stukas that I hadn't seen in KC. Even Clinton, Mo. about and an hour and a half had them. 6 months later I still haven't seen them here. We got the later releases such as the Sabres and Migs and I have seen some of the new figures. There seem to be black out spots around the nation were different 21st stuff doesn't get ordered or something.

I'd be happy with an email from WM explaining why/how they can get The Corps, Sigma 6, Star Wars, etc in EVERY store, but not XD? WHY is it that WM picks 21C as the ONLY TOY NOT TO DISTRIBUTE EQUALLY?
IF 21C only makes a certain number of XD to be sold and this is why we can't find them in EVERY WM, then TELL US!!! Instead of having us WASTE time, gas going to every fricken WM with hopes of finding anything!
I don't think we'll have to go on strike, we already CAN'T BUY any XD figures as it is! ....unless of course you're an Ebay Seller

I seriously doubt that 21c is sitting around the conference table saying "hey what can we do to jack up WM and the fans today" I also doubt that they guilty of short selling product by holding back product in random areas. No matter how many times we visit this issue the answers are always the same. So here we go again... Keep in mind that EVERYONE agrees WM could do better with XD!

21c simply is not the same kind of company as hasbro. So comparrisons don't do any good. WM is ALWAYS going to dedicate shelf space to movie products like Ghost Rider, Superman, Star Wars and so on. Then you got the heavy hitting brands like Hot Wheels, Power Rangers, and so on. All of these products get planned into what is called a Plan-O-Gram system. These guys typically get the prime rea estate and regular orders and scheduled re-sets are already planned in. So after all of that happens WM looks around and what is left shelf space wise and then stocks indy company products like 21c and other brands. Last time I checked 21c was still not a public traded company on the NYSE.

That would explain why we see random re-sets, WM locations who flat out don't carry it, Weird locations like the Dog food Isle, Garden equip. and so on. I would guarantee that as we speak new products are sitting in wait in some areas just waiting for a stock boy to squeeze it in somewhere.

So what is 21c doing about it?... The only thing they can do. Lobby to become part of the regular plan-0-gram system and fight for dedicated shelf space with regular re-stocks. In some areas this is just starting to happen with 2007 shelf reset/ after Christmas re-stocks. Also keep in mind that during Jan / Feb stores leave the toy shelves a little bare to do the re-set and take inventory. So that doesn't help either. I know it sounds strange but 21c would like to sell you more product! Weird I know.

What can we do? Someone said write 21c or WM. Well 21c already knows so you guys will pretty much just be singing to the choir with a tune that is all too familar. Here is a better idea. Lets write WM!!! WM only listens to WM and WM customers. Until 21c completes the take over of WM and re-names it XD-Mart we are subject to what WM does... and it pretty much does what it wants! When was the last time you ever heard a news report where a small town store was happy and glad to welcome a WM in the neighborhood! Seriously WM simply does what it wants because it can!

I think I might see if I can dig up some intel on who exactly we can beat up on at the WM level as fans and customers demanding that XD gets better representation and greater distribution.

tko211 wrote:I seriously doubt that 21c is sitting around the conference table saying "hey what can we do to jack up WM and the fans today" I also doubt that they guilty of short selling product by holding back product in random areas. No matter how many times we visit this issue the answers are always the same. So here we go again... Keep in mind that EVERYONE agrees WM could do better with XD!

21c simply is not the same kind of company as hasbro. So comparrisons don't do any good. WM is ALWAYS going to dedicate shelf space to movie products like Ghost Rider, Superman, Star Wars and so on. Then you got the heavy hitting brands like Hot Wheels, Power Rangers, and so on. All of these products get planned into what is called a Plan-O-Gram system. These guys typically get the prime rea estate and regular orders and scheduled re-sets are already planned in. So after all of that happens WM looks around and what is left shelf space wise and then stocks indy company products like 21c and other brands. Last time I checked 21c was still not a public traded company on the NYSE.

That would explain why we see random re-sets, WM locations who flat out don't carry it, Weird locations like the Dog food Isle, Garden equip. and so on. I would guarantee that as we speak new products are sitting in wait in some areas just waiting for a stock boy to squeeze it in somewhere.

So what is 21c doing about it?... The only thing they can do. Lobby to become part of the regular plan-0-gram system and fight for dedicated shelf space with regular re-stocks. In some areas this is just starting to happen with 2007 shelf reset/ after Christmas re-stocks. Also keep in mind that during Jan / Feb stores leave the toy shelves a little bare to do the re-set and take inventory. So that doesn't help either. I know it sounds strange but 21c would like to sell you more product! Weird I know.

What can we do? Someone said write 21c or WM. Well 21c already knows so you guys will pretty much just be singing to the choir with a tune that is all too familar. Here is a better idea. Lets write WM!!! WM only listens to WM and WM customers. Until 21c completes the take over of WM and re-names it XD-Mart we are subject to what WM does... and it pretty much does what it wants! When was the last time you ever heard a news report where a small town store was happy and glad to welcome a WM in the neighborhood! Seriously WM simply does what it wants because it can!

I think I might see if I can dig up some intel on who exactly we can beat up on at the WM level as fans and customers demanding that XD gets better representation and greater distribution.

Didn't Hasbro accrure 21c some time ago?

holensock wrote:I'm with you, Rowsdower. I have N scale trains, nothing set up yet, but it feels good to be able to buy whatever I want when I want. XD's becoming too much of a gamble.

Always glad to see another rail fan! I tried N for awhile since I don't have a lot of space but I grew up with HO and having TONS of product available is great. It's amazing how far the hobby has come since I last put a car on the tracks when I was a kid in the late 80's. I don't have much of a layout yet but half the fun for me is finding new cars and engines and hanging out in that den of geekdom that is the hobby store.

And I agree with what others have said, if anything is going to hurt 21st, (which I don't wan't to see!) it's going to be their relationship with WM, mainly WM's horrible distribution, which results in collectors getting tired of having to scour every WM within 50 miles for product only to come home with an empty gas tank and no XD. It is definitely a roll of the dice.

tko211 wrote:I think I might see if I can dig up some intel on who exactly we can beat up on at the WM level as fans and customers demanding that XD gets better representation and greater distribution.

Awesome! That would be a great start!

I think we all have our gripes with WM's distribution of XD products and bad as it may be, we probably are fighting a losing battle to try and improve it. I've noticed that some of the local WM's in my area aren't stocking any new XD products anymore and others less than what they used to carry. It will be interesting to find out from TKO who at WM we can write to improve this messy distribution, but until that happens, we just have to hang in there and cope with what is reality for the moment.

One thing we are forgetting -
This is clearance season - Sure Hasbro and some other toy monsters are well monsters - I think 1:18 will be strong in spring and summer - then before Christmas again - just like it always has been.
I remember one WM last year had the shelf ready for XD and nothing showed for months -only to find it right before Christmas - In the words of one toy section manager - "well we just found this on the bottom of a palet - it was supposed to be on the floor before Christmas.."
she was speaking about 15 RC tanks and 9 Avengers.

I keep finding BoB I items - and japanese figures at some of the newer WM's and they were not there the week before.

21C is not owned by any company. I am not sure how a rumor of it being sold to Hasbo came to be but it is not true. 21st Century Toys is a private toy company and not owned by any corporation. So actually the fact that an indy toy company has been able to get as much traction into WM is fairly impressive when you look at it. It's a pretty tough business.

But it's because of us die-hard fans supporting it (when it is available) that 21C has been able to make a great go at WM. I remember when the old red motoworks flame boxed version of the Corsair was first spotted at WM. It was during that testing period that Fans found out about it and followed the product to the WM isles.

I think if we can get some intel on who to contact at WM we might make a difference perhaps. At the very least it would show the toy buyers that XD has a very loyal fan base and that we expect to continue to see this type of product carried and hope that regular re-stocks can happen in the future.

I will see if there is any way to obtain info for those interested in writing the WM congressman!

I know a hot female who transferred to the head office, I think she works in distribution. She pretty low on the totem poll.

I asked her today and she said the distribution problems are a result of the low volume of 21st century products being produced. As for which store gets what she said that it depends on how well that product line does in an area, and yes there are problems in it.
I asked her for some phone numbers but she said that she could loose her job over that and directed me and my loyal gang to go through the proper channels. Because it will fall on deaf ears.

We could all protest on the same day and hold up card board in front of wallmart

Alright, Normandy, C44, and everyone else in Long Island, how about the Old Country Road Walmat, Sunday, at say 3:00?

tko211 wrote:21C is not owned by any company. I am not sure how a rumor of it being sold to Hasbo came to be but it is not true. 21st Century Toys is a private toy company and not owned by any corporation. So actually the fact that an indy toy company has been able to get as much traction into WM is fairly impressive when you look at it. It's a pretty tough business.

But it's because of us die-hard fans supporting it (when it is available) that 21C has been able to make a great go at WM. I remember when the old red motoworks flame boxed version of the Corsair was first spotted at WM. It was during that testing period that Fans found out about it and followed the product to the WM isles.

I think if we can get some intel on who to contact at WM we might make a difference perhaps. At the very least it would show the toy buyers that XD has a very loyal fan base and that we expect to continue to see this type of product carried and hope that regular re-stocks can happen in the future.

I will see if there is any way to obtain info for those interested in writing the WM congressman!

Your right, just checked with Hoover's they show gijoe, action man, and some others. I have no idea where this came from, but it was incorrect and just another example of why I need to go through periodic memory checks.

Gawd, also another reminder of why I need to get out of this stuff and just concentrate on getting through the next winter.

Good morning everyone, I do agree that the reason we collectors aren't seeing the new figs are more with wallys than anything else, however I don't understand why the online retailers are being left out. I don't know about anyone else, but I'd be willing to buy online and pay a bit more for my x/d before making the arduous journey to my local headache, er I mean wallys. But overall I'm happy with 21st because thier products are the best. I just wish the products were easier to get hold of. I've e-mailed a few of the online retailers trying to find out if they knew when they would receive the new d-day figs, but they don't know either. I'm sorry if I sound like I'm complaining too much, I'm not trying to. I love 21st Century and their toys and I am a huge fan of XD. It's just frustrating. I'm sure everyone here can relate.

You cant find it at walmart becuase the stock boys are selling it on ebay! I used to work with a guy part time. His full time job was at a Toys Rus. When ever a hot item came in he said the employees would scoop it up with their employee discount befor the item hit the shelf. You dont think the guys at WM arnt doing the same? Next time your on ebay see where the seller lives. I bet the majority of them are in areas of the contry that Walmarts are known to have had a lot of Ultimate Soldier items in the varius scales.

Thanks, tko and everyone else as we try to figure this out...as tko said, "again and again". I think this topic keeps popping up because we STILL haven't gotten a good enough answer. I know 21C is a small company and is unfair to compair to Hasbro, and the CORPS company is bigger than 21C, it's just hard for me to understand why WM has targeted 21C as the toy NOT to put in all their stores, the CORPS seems to have no problem and that stuff usually sits on the shelves for a while where as 21C can get on the shelf one day and be gone the next! Strong sales, WM STRONG SALES! Why wouldn't you stock a product that MOVES?! I've seen receint 'plan-no grams' at some of the stores here-WM usually has them taped in the aisles as they do their resets-and I've SEEN 21C ON THOSE SHEETS! BUT...they NEVER appear on the shelves...
If I can't find XD in 10 stores here, neither can any other potential 1:18 customers. WM is not only hurting us XD collectors, but FUTURE collectors and FUTURE SALES for 21C.
I just thought of this...maybe we should all write and email WM not so much about the stocking problem of XD in the stores, but to get WM to PUT XD ON THEIR WEBSITE'S ONLINE STORE! If WM is keeping 21C from putting the new figures in other online stores, then maybe we can get WM to put these figures on WM's Online Store site! If WM's argument would be, "Well, we'd rather have these customers in our store to buy other things" fine, then put XD in your stores-cause if I go in there and don't find any XD, I'm headed for the doors without buying anything else.
I wanna see 21C CONTINUE to put out this great product! But I also want to be able to BUY it too....